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With his family already in Hawaii for the holidays, and the congressional stalemate over the payroll tax threatening to keep in in Washington through Christmas, President Barack Obama took the family dog on a lunchtime shopping trip.

Obama purchased a chew toy for Bo, his Portuguese Water Dog, as well as two video games (including Just Dance 3) and iTunes gift cards for his daughters.

"The girls beat me every time on these dance games," Obama told reporters, "but you'll never get a picture of me (playing) because I get graded F every time."

Bo apparently got smart with a standard poodle named "Cinnamon" (pictured), prompting a warning from Obama.

Here is the pool report:

Presidential motorcade left a soggy South Lawn at 12:45 p.m. for shopping and lunch amidst the legislative chaos. Fourteen minutes later the motorcade arrived at Potomac Yards in Alexandria, where the President headed into the Pet Smart store. By the time the pool was allowed in a shirtsleeved POTUS was at a checkout counter with Bo, who appeared to be sizing up a small brown "standard poodle" named Cinnamon, according to the dog's owner.

"Okay, Bo, don't get too personal here," POTUS admonished, holding tightly to Bo's leash. He pulled out a $50 bill to pay for two items, one a large dog bone. Total was slightly more than $41.

After a quick stroll POTUS entered the nearby Best Buy at 1:10 p.m. "This (stop) for the girls now," he said as he went in.

After a round of handshaking he headed straight to the Wii section, where he bought a Just Dance game for his daughters. (It might have been a Just Dance 3 since there was a big yellow 3 below the words)

"The girls beat me every time on these dance games," he said, "but you'll never get a picture of me (playing) because I get graded F every time."

He also bought a pair of $50 iTunes gift cards and an unidentified game. Tab came to 194.48. "Let's see if my credit card still works," he said. It did.

After more grip-and-grins outside, motorcade left at 1:21 p.m. Nine minutes later, POTUS arrived via side streets at intersection of East Del Ray and Mount Vernon to pick up some pies at the Del Ray Pizzeria. More handshakes, a little sports banter...

Pool ushered out. Minutes later POTUS emerged with three large pizzas. Then he worked the crowd on all four corners of the intersection plus a fifth cluster of squealing well-wishers a bit further down Del Ray.

Motorcade including Bo rolling at 1:48, arriving South Lawn 2:05 p.m.

And - POTUS dutifully ignored all efforts by poolers to engage him on the payroll tax imbroglio.